Switchgear facility to open gates to mining sector

US industrial group General Electric (GE) expects the R10-million expansion of its energy division GE Energy’s low-voltage switchgear manufacturing centre to create the platform the company needs to extend its offering into the mining arena.

Exxaro may build 13-MW power plant at Namakwa Sands

Diversified miner Exxaro was considering building a 13-MW power plant at its Namakwa Sands titanium operation, the group’s energy manager Thomas Garner said on Tuesday. He noted during the Cogeneration World Africa 2010 conference, that if the...

Energy division making its mark

The provision of sustainable energy solutions is the key focus of the energy division of project house TWP Holdings. TWP Energy GM Ian Curry tells Mining Weekly that the division does not intend to become involved in huge energy projects, such as...

Eskom issues request for proposals for coal supplies

The primary energy division of South Africa’s power utility Eskom has called on mining companies to respond to a request for proposals (RFP) for coal supplies to the utility. Eskom said in a tender advertisement that it had received a positive...

Eskom says dependence on short-term coal supplies to increase

State-owned power utility Eskom was developing an ever-increasing dependency on short-term coal supply. Eskom primary energy division acting director Chris Schutte said at the seventh annual Coaltrans conference that, in 2008, an estimated 21% of...

Resources giant to drill for oil off West Coast

The world’s largest diversified resources group BHP Billiton will drill an exploration well in the Block 3B/4B deepwater exploration block offshore South Africa’s West Coast region in the middle of the year.

Oz dollar knocks Rio Tinto profits

The world's second-largest diversified miner, Rio Tinto, posted a surprisingly weak first-half profit yesterday, as a strong Australian dollar and weak thermal coal earnings more than offset rising iron-ore sales to a steel-hungry China.

Norwegian metals firm forecasts weak markets

Norwegian metals maker Elkem ASA reported a swing to a fourth-quarter profit yesterday, helped by cost cuts and higher turnover, but the group forecast continued weak markets for many of its products.